Some people feel intimidated by cooking, especially if there is already an expert cook in the family. The truth is that anyone can be a good cook with the right knowledge and a desire to learn. Read the following tips on cooking if you need some help in the kitchen.
Try parsnips for a change! A lot of people tend to avoid parsnips, as they are not exactly sure how to cook them. Look for a creamy white or beige parsnip with a smooth skin. Cut into 2 inch long 'sticks' and roast in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. They impart an intense nutty flavor that is nothing like the boiled parsnips that you remember from your youth!
Since you are going to be using a lot of sharp knives in the kitchen to cook your meals, you will want to maintain precautions at all times. Instead of simply putting your knife in the drawer, make sure that you put a wine cork on the tip to protect against cuts and scrapes upon use.
When cooking, many people forget about proper care for the spices that they use to season their food. All spices should be stored in a cool dark place and never above a stove. The reason for this is because storing spices in areas where there is a lot of heat, light, or humidity will cause them to lose their flavor.
Never use oil that has been used for other foods or has been sitting in a frying pan for a long time. It will give your food a foul taste. If you are unsure if the oil is good enough to cook with, smell it and use your finger to try a little of it.
To save time when cooking for a big event like Thanksgiving, do all the prep work the night before. You can also make desserts a day or two before the dinner. This will give you more time to focus on what needs to be done and the day will be a lot less stressful.
To make it easier to peel boiled eggs, run them under cold water immediately after removing from them the stove. Once they are cool enough to touch, tap them lightly to crack and roll on a counter. Once you begin peeling and have an opening in the shell, run this under cold water and you will find the rest of the shell will peel off with the greatest of ease!
When freezing meat it is important to use freezer bags. Meat will get freezer burn if it is not properly stored. Meat that has freezer burn will not taste good when it is cooked, and it often has to be thrown away instead of being eaten. This can be very costly, but can also be easily avoided.
To get the best sear and the crispiest crust on everything from fish to meats to other pan fried foods, the secret is a hot pan. Getting a nice brown color on your food requires a pan that is as hot as possible before the food hits its surface. Because the exterior of the food cooks first, you get only one chance to create that perfect golden color and crispy texture, so heat your pan and oil for several minutes prior.
When you are storing leftovers make sure that you put them away as soon as possible to inhibit bacteria growth. You should always cover them tightly as well. This not only ensures health but it also will keep your leftovers fresher for a longer period of time. Leftovers are great!
Coffee
Add a small pinch of sea salt to your ground coffee immediately before brewing. This will add a great punch of flavor to every cup. This process works well in either a traditional coffee maker or a french press. Don't add the salt before brewing time though, or your coffee flavor will be compromised.
A coffee grinder isn't just for coffee. A coffee grinder actually works just as well as a food processor for some jobs. This is especially true with small jobs when you don't want the trouble of lugging out a huge processor and then having to wash all the parts. Nuts and peppercorns grind perfectly in a coffee grinder, even sugar if you need a quick substitute for powdered sugar in a recipe.
Add a small pinch of sea salt to your ground coffee immediately before brewing. This will add a great punch of flavor to every cup. This process works well in either a traditional coffee maker or a french press. Don't add the salt before brewing time though, or your coffee flavor will be compromised.
To have a clean coffee maker, use table salt and white vinegar. Rub the table salt inside the pot to scrub away the stains. "Brew" the vinegar instead of water (don't use coffee, either!) to clean the inside of the coffee maker. Be sure to run water through the coffee maker several times before brewing the next pot of coffee, though.
Get more out of your small kitchen appliances by considering alternate uses for them. Waffle irons can make a great grilled cheese sandwich or sunny-side-up egg, for instance, and your coffee maker make a wonderful stand-in for a kettle to heat water for tea, soup, oatmeal or anything else that you just need to add hot water to.
If you have a cup of coffee left over from breakfast, try adding it to baked goods. Coffee imparts a deep, smoky flavor that pairs especially well with chocolate. Use the flavors together in cake, cookies, or cupcakes. Serve them with mocha or caramel ice cream for a great taste combination.
As stated in the article above, cooking has evolved over time, from simple and humble beginnings to great culinary feats. This evolution results from the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Using the knowledge and ideas shared in this article, you can increase your cooking skill and evolve your dishes.
Try parsnips for a change! A lot of people tend to avoid parsnips, as they are not exactly sure how to cook them. Look for a creamy white or beige parsnip with a smooth skin. Cut into 2 inch long 'sticks' and roast in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. They impart an intense nutty flavor that is nothing like the boiled parsnips that you remember from your youth!
Since you are going to be using a lot of sharp knives in the kitchen to cook your meals, you will want to maintain precautions at all times. Instead of simply putting your knife in the drawer, make sure that you put a wine cork on the tip to protect against cuts and scrapes upon use.
When cooking, many people forget about proper care for the spices that they use to season their food. All spices should be stored in a cool dark place and never above a stove. The reason for this is because storing spices in areas where there is a lot of heat, light, or humidity will cause them to lose their flavor.
Never use oil that has been used for other foods or has been sitting in a frying pan for a long time. It will give your food a foul taste. If you are unsure if the oil is good enough to cook with, smell it and use your finger to try a little of it.
To save time when cooking for a big event like Thanksgiving, do all the prep work the night before. You can also make desserts a day or two before the dinner. This will give you more time to focus on what needs to be done and the day will be a lot less stressful.
To make it easier to peel boiled eggs, run them under cold water immediately after removing from them the stove. Once they are cool enough to touch, tap them lightly to crack and roll on a counter. Once you begin peeling and have an opening in the shell, run this under cold water and you will find the rest of the shell will peel off with the greatest of ease!
When freezing meat it is important to use freezer bags. Meat will get freezer burn if it is not properly stored. Meat that has freezer burn will not taste good when it is cooked, and it often has to be thrown away instead of being eaten. This can be very costly, but can also be easily avoided.
To get the best sear and the crispiest crust on everything from fish to meats to other pan fried foods, the secret is a hot pan. Getting a nice brown color on your food requires a pan that is as hot as possible before the food hits its surface. Because the exterior of the food cooks first, you get only one chance to create that perfect golden color and crispy texture, so heat your pan and oil for several minutes prior.
When you are storing leftovers make sure that you put them away as soon as possible to inhibit bacteria growth. You should always cover them tightly as well. This not only ensures health but it also will keep your leftovers fresher for a longer period of time. Leftovers are great!
Coffee
Add a small pinch of sea salt to your ground coffee immediately before brewing. This will add a great punch of flavor to every cup. This process works well in either a traditional coffee maker or a french press. Don't add the salt before brewing time though, or your coffee flavor will be compromised.
A coffee grinder isn't just for coffee. A coffee grinder actually works just as well as a food processor for some jobs. This is especially true with small jobs when you don't want the trouble of lugging out a huge processor and then having to wash all the parts. Nuts and peppercorns grind perfectly in a coffee grinder, even sugar if you need a quick substitute for powdered sugar in a recipe.
Add a small pinch of sea salt to your ground coffee immediately before brewing. This will add a great punch of flavor to every cup. This process works well in either a traditional coffee maker or a french press. Don't add the salt before brewing time though, or your coffee flavor will be compromised.
To have a clean coffee maker, use table salt and white vinegar. Rub the table salt inside the pot to scrub away the stains. "Brew" the vinegar instead of water (don't use coffee, either!) to clean the inside of the coffee maker. Be sure to run water through the coffee maker several times before brewing the next pot of coffee, though.
Get more out of your small kitchen appliances by considering alternate uses for them. Waffle irons can make a great grilled cheese sandwich or sunny-side-up egg, for instance, and your coffee maker make a wonderful stand-in for a kettle to heat water for tea, soup, oatmeal or anything else that you just need to add hot water to.
If you have a cup of coffee left over from breakfast, try adding it to baked goods. Coffee imparts a deep, smoky flavor that pairs especially well with chocolate. Use the flavors together in cake, cookies, or cupcakes. Serve them with mocha or caramel ice cream for a great taste combination.
As stated in the article above, cooking has evolved over time, from simple and humble beginnings to great culinary feats. This evolution results from the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Using the knowledge and ideas shared in this article, you can increase your cooking skill and evolve your dishes.
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